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Pressure mounting on Roosters: Friend

Steve Zemek

Sydney Roosters hooker Jake Friend admits the pressure is on to get their NRL title defence back on track but also believes they're not far off their best.

The premiers have been inconsistent over the past month - big wins have reminded their opposition just how formidable they can be while they have lost games they were hotly tipped to take out.

The last-placed Sharks ran over the top of them in the second half in round 17, while their class across the park was evident in their big win over fellow top-four contenders Penrith a fortnight later.

Their last-start loss to a willing Newcastle meant the Roosters have been defeated by three of the current bottom five sides this season.

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They sit in fifth and in a logjam of eight teams on 24 or 26 points that are battling it out for spots in the top eight.

While he described Saturday night's clash with St George Illawarra at Allianz Stadium as a must-win, Friend said the Roosters - who have lost three of their last four matches - were not far off digging themselves out of their form slump.

"We do have to win really, with the ladder as it is, it's a bit of a pressure situation," he said.

"Hopefully we don't let that get to us and play our style of footy and that's good enough to win."

"We're still confident that we can be there at the end of the season.

"We haven't been playing as good as we hoped but I think the confidence is there and winning will only help that."

If the Roosters are to get back in the winners' circle, they will have to do so without injured talisman Sonny Bill Williams (thumb) and Mitch Aubusson (ankle).

However, in a welcome boost, centre Michael Jennings will play his first game since injuring his back in Origin II.

Prop Sam Moa said the side had been asked by coach Trent Robinson to rediscover their mongrel and aggression.

"Our defence and most parts of the game we felt like we were in rhythm and we were just missing maybe five per cent of added aggression," he said.

"We were just missing a bit of ruthlessness in our defence to take us to the next level and we're confident of getting there."